History of Boylston, Massachusetts, USA

Prior to its incorporation, Boylston was known as the North Parish of Shrewsbury. It was named after Ward Nicholas Boylston (1747–1828).

Boylston, Massachusetts
Worcester county. Incorporated, 1786. Population, 1837, 821. It lies 40 miles W. from Boston and 8 N. by E. from Worcester. Boylston is watered by Nashua river, and has iron ore and a ledge of crystalized quartz. Here are some manufactures of combs, palm-leaf hats, boots and shoes;—several ponds and fine fish.

Boylston was once a part of Shrewsbury, and was named after Zabdiel, Nicholas, and Ward Nicholas Boylston, three citizens of Brookline, distinguished for learning or for the liberal encouragement of it.

The south branch of the Nashua runs through Boylston, and receives several small streams.

The land is hilly but fertile, and agriculture is the chief employment of the inhabitants.

Distance from Worcester, 8 miles ; from Boston, 45.

This town was included in the original grant of the township of Shrewsbury. It was made a parish by the legislature in 1742, and was called the north parish of Shrewshury until 1786, when it was incorporated and made a distinct town by the name of Boylston, in honor of an eminent family of that name in Boston, two of whom in succession were skilful physicians, and another founded a professorship of rhetoric and oratory in Harvard University. The first church was organized in 1743, and. Rev. Ebenezer Morse was ordained the first pastor. He was also an eminent and. skilful physician. He continued with the people till 1775, when he was dismissed in consequence of his political sentiments regarding the controversy between England and America. The second minister was Rev. Eleazer Fairbanks, ordained in 1777, and continued their pastor till 1793, when, at his request, he was dismissed. The following ministers have been his successors: Hezekiah Hooper, Ward Cotton, Samuel Russell, William H. ...

Boylston, a post-township of Worcester county, Massachusetts, about 35 miles W. of Boston. Population, 918.

Boylston is an agricultural town in the eastern part of Worcester County, about forty miles west of Boston, on the Central Massachusetts Railroad. There are stations at Boylston (Sawyer's Mills) and West Boylston The post-offices are the first and Boylston Centre; which, with Straw Hollow, are also the villages. It is bounded on the north by Sterling and Clinton, east by Berlin and Northborough, south by Shrewsbury, and west by West Boylston. The land is elevated and broken, yet of good quality.

Merrimack schist and calcareous gneiss constitute the geological formation. There is much clay suitable for bricks. Iron ore, good building stone and crystallized quartz, are found. The location of the quartz is Diamond Hill, near the centre. In the southern part of the town is Sewell's Pond, with a feeder coming from the East Woods, noted for rattlesnakes. In the eastern part of the town is Rocky Pond, of eighty-six acres, with bottom full of bowlders, and a pretty island near the centre....

Boylston, boilz'ton, a post-hamlet of Worcester co., Mass., in Boylston township, 12 miles N. by E. of Worcester. It has a church, a town hall, and a cotton-factory. The town ship has a manufactory of vinegar. Pop. of township, 895.